Who are the Chargers' Toughest Opponents in 2014?

Peyton Manning and the Broncos will meet up with the Chargers twice in the 2014 season.

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Sitting at home a little bored out of your mind with no football to fill your Sundays? Keep the faith, the NFL summer training camps are but a mere five months away.

In the meantime, have you looked at San Diego's 2014 schedule yet? If so, who stands out in your mind as some of the tougher opponents when the players hit the field for real come September?

Right off the bat, you have to figure that both defending AFC champ Denver and much improved Kansas City will give the Chargers trouble. That said, keep in mind that San Diego swept the 2013 season series with the Chiefs, plus stunned the Broncos during the regular season in Denver. As for Oakland, the Chargers are never guaranteed a 'W' against their arch-rivals from the north, even when the Silver and Black continue to put out one of the worst products on the field.

In looking at the remainder of the home schedule, the Bolts will get visits from the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, the New York Jets, St. Louis and Jacksonville.

When you break down those games, you have to figure that only the Jaguars would be a near certain win on paper.

As their opponents can tell you, the Jets are capable one week of beating the Super Bowl champs and losing to an 0-10 team the next week. The Rams are also another team that can't be taken lightly, as they look to make it a four-team challenge next season in the NFC West.

In previewing the remainder of the road schedule, there are no "gimmes" when you stop and thinking about it.

The Chargers have trips (besides the regular visits to Oakland, Denver and Kansas City) to Buffalo, Miami, Arizona, San Francisco and Baltimore.

As history has shown fans, trips for West Coast teams to the East Coast can be difficult. Throw in the fact that Buffalo and Baltimore crowds can be two of the tougher ones to go up against, the Chargers could have their hands full. San Diego will also be returning for the second straight season to Miami, the site where it dropped a heartbreaking loss this past season. Visits to San Francisco's new venue and a meeting in the desert with the Cardinals will not prove easy by any means.

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Dave Thomas has been a sports fan since his childhood days. He's attended thousands of sporting events over the years, including a Super Bowl, an NBA All-Star game, college football bowl games and more. Living in San Diego for the last 18 years, Dave covers the Chargers and the team's pursuit of its first Super Bowl title.